WorkSafe charges health service over patient death

WorkSafe charges health service over patient death following an incident at a Berwick hospital more than five years ago, according to news reports on the matter.

WorkSafe Victoria has filed charges under the OHS Act, accusing the health service of failing to ensure a patient wasn't exposed to risk. This case adds to a growing list of prosecutions against public healthcare providers, echoing an earlier Victorian health service facing charges over death of a patient, and reinforces why robust safety systems remain essential across healthcare services.

What Happened at the Berwick Hospital

The health service will appear in court on 2 February 2023 to answer the charges laid against it. Details of the incident remain limited in available news coverage, though the case highlights ongoing scrutiny of safety practices within healthcare services.

This isn't the first time WorkSafe has pursued action against a healthcare provider. Similar cases include instances where WorkSafe has charged Monash Health and where WorkSafe has charged St Vincent's Hospital, showing a pattern of enforcement across health care services statewide.

Why This Case Matters for Safety Professionals

Patient safety incidents within hospital settings carry serious consequences, both for those affected and for organisations responsible for care delivery. When failures occur, the flow-on effects extend well beyond a single facility.

For technical professionals working across construction, manufacturing and healthcare, this case serves as a reminder that safety obligations apply broadly to services provided to vulnerable individuals, not solely to physical worksites. Comparable enforcement trends appear in other sectors too, such as when WorkSafe Victoria laid charges over a camper's death and when WorkSafe Victoria laid charges over the drowning death of a primary school student.

Key Takeaways for Healthcare Providers

• Health services must maintain documented risk assessments to satisfy OHS obligations.
• Court appearances stemming from safety failures can damage public trust in services long after charges are resolved.
• Consistent review of safety protocols helps healthcare services reduce exposure to similar prosecutions.
• Strong governance around patient care supports both compliance and quality outcomes across services.

Strengthening Safety Practices Across Health Services

Melbourne Health has been charged in comparable circumstances previously, reinforcing that no single provider is immune from regulatory attention. As a public healthcare provider, each organisation carries responsibility for ensuring safety measures are current, documented and actively enforced.

Building a culture where safety is prioritised requires more than policy documents sitting unused. Health services benefit from embedding safety into daily practice, supported by resources such as a Health & Welfare Policy, a Health Surveillance Record, and a comprehensive Work Health & Safety (WHS) Policy.

Mental wellbeing also plays a role in overall safety performance. Services supporting staff through workplace mental health and psychosocial policies often see improved outcomes across patient care and staff retention alike.

Staying Informed on Safety Enforcement

Cases like this one, involving death of a patient, underscore why safety professionals should stay across enforcement trends and regulatory expectations. Attending events such as the Workplace Health and Safety Show offers opportunities to learn directly from experts navigating these challenges.

WorkSafe's continued charges against major healthcare services signal that regulators expect consistent, verifiable safety practices at every level of care delivery. For providers seeking to strengthen compliance frameworks, proactive review remains far preferable to reactive court proceedings following charges over a preventable death.

This story was originally published here.